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Getting a Better Nights Sleep 8 Tips

Last week I had a terrible night of sleep. It wasnt purely down to the kids though they did factor into it.

It’s hard to sleep well if you’re a mum to babies, or children that don’t sleep well but sleep is so important.

Your body repairs its self while you sleep. Especially important if you’re recovering from an operation.

When I’ve had a good nights sleep I feel like I can tackle anything.

To give myself a better chance of getting a decent night of sleep here are 5 ways to give me a head start.

Screen Time

This is a big one for me my phone is the last thing I check at night and the first thing I do in a morning, Also myself and hubby often fall asleep with sleep timer on the TV listening to some kind of sitcom. I really need to banish the phone from the side of my bed.

It is advised to give up the screen for at least an hour before bed. instead I will try to read a book.

Sleepy Tea

I often opt for a decaf tea towards the end of the day as full caffeine tea contributed to insomnia and reflux after a certain time. However I think going to opt for a naturally caffeine free tea like clipper Sleepy Tea or a green tea.

Outdoors

We’ve all heard people say when a child nods off after a trip to th park or seaside, “It will be all that fresh air” Well it seems regular stints outside can get your body into a better rhythm. Being outdoors in fresh air & sunlight regularly will help your body regulate melatonin which will help you fall asleep more easily and help your body get in to better sleep cycles.

Eat Better

This doesn’t just mean eating healthy it means eating at least 2 hours before bed to enable food to digest before laying down. As a sufferer of reflux and indigestion in the past, laying down after a meal can cause all sorts of pain and discomfort. Touch wood since eating less fat I have had no symptoms lately.

Write It Down

If my head is full of things to do It’s hard to fall asleep, I sometimes have a note-book at the side of my bed to write thoughts, things to do, ideas, shopping lists. It helps to stop my brain whiring at night.

Yoga

I started a habit a long time ago of doing yoga in a morning and at night I fell out of doing this when I became pregnant. I need to get back into it now I’m feeling better after my op. I opt for following a Yoga with Adriene bedtime sequence on YouTube.

Sanctuary

We have just had our bedroom redecorated and still need to put some finishing touches to it to make it our sanctuary.(Currently the babies are still sleeping in our room as we are till having to settle them a couple of times a night. I need to get them sleeping through and into their own room soon though but this is a sleep post for adults not babies. that’s a whole other ball game! ) Id like to get some plants in there and a nice Cheval mirror. Making our bedroom an area that feels tidy, and clean helps you feel more relaxed and therefore sleep better.

Sleep when your tired

This may sound obvious, but if you go to bed when your wide awake chances are you wont sleep. Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night and cant get back to sleep. When this happens I get up make a cuppa and sit in a different room so I don’t wake everyone else. Normally I would get out my phoe and check the world but I’m going to try to read if this happens to get myself back to sleep.

I am in no way a professional sleep therapist if you are struggling with insomnia I suggest you consult a professional or talk to your doctor. There may be an underlying reason for your insomnia.